PGMA as commander-in-chief of the armed forces is deliberately trying to keep to the sidelines over raging issues of corruption in the PNP and AFP; implications on the presidency serious - Rep. Beltran

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that Malacanang's callagainst corruption has fallen flat on its face because of the executive'slack of sincere and strong political will to route out the corrupt high-rankingofficials in the civilian, police and military bureaucracy.

Beltran said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo continues to call forinvestigations into the financial and performance records of officials nowbeing accused of corruption, but she has yet to issue a stronger stand againstthese erring officials. "None have been suspended, and none have been fired.The rigmarole of placing new appointments in the key government posts has alsobeen exposed - the President is only recycling individuals, including thosewho have been accused of graft and corruption and other abuses of power," hesaid.

Beltran said that the President's jelly-fish, wishty-washy attitude aspresident and commander-in-chief of the armed forces only strengthensuspicions that the paper trail of all the corruption schemes and scams nowbeing exposed in the PNP and AFP lead to Malacanang.

"As commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the rank and file look up toPres. Arroyo to put an end to the systemic corruption in the PNP and the AFP;but the president chooses to stay safe and in the sidelines. This is adefinite sign that Pres. Arroyo knows how serious the exposes are, and of their implications on her office and leadership," he concluded.#

Beltran said that latest reports exposing a widespread payroll racket in thePhilippine National Police (PNP) are more than enough reason to conduct athorough revamp in the PNP leadership. He said that President Arroyo's refusalto overhaul the PNP leadership from top to bottom guarantees that corruptionwill never be taken out of the PNP. This, he also said, also goes for t hecorruption within the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)."Lifestyle checksare so weak a response to this sewer of a problem. Criminal actions must bepursued against those who are accused of massive corruption," he said.

"The President is being very careful and considerate when it comes toaddressing issues of corruption involving the armed forces. She is mostlikely well aware of how volatile the situation is when it comes to the rankand file of the police and military. There is deep demoralization within theranks, and for all the calls for sobriety, it will not be surprising if therewill be uprisings from the ranks who are sickened and disgusted by the corruptleadership and the executive's refusal to step in and take decisive action," hesaid.

Finally, Beltran said that it was not so much the scourge of terrorism thatthe national government should address, but the alarming level of corruptionin the topmost levels of the bureaucracy. "The days are over when topofficials of the government can sound high and mighty in saying that they areat the forefront of the fight versus corruption and their propaganda desk project campaigns saying that it's the small-time racketeers in thebureaucracy that are to blame. These days, it's the heads of the mostinfluential agencies and departments who are in the firing line for their fatpaychecks, and unexplained wealth," he said.#